(CNN) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin takes on the closer role today, teaming up with incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss at four campaign events in Georgia on the last full day of campaigning before tomorrow's Senate runoff election in the state.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate joined Chambliss at a pair of fundraisers last night. She adds her name to the list of big-name surrogates who have made campaign cameos in the year’s final remaining Senate contest.

Sen. John McCain returned to the trail to campaign with Chambliss just nine days after losing the presidential election to Obama. So have some of his Republican primary rivals, like former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani — all likely 2012 candidates for the GOP presidential nomination, along with Palin.

Palin came out on top in a recent Gallup poll that asked Republican voters who they are most interested in seeing run for the GOP nomination in 2012. Sixty-seven percent of Republican and Republican- leaning voters said they would like to see her make a bid for the next GOP presidential nomination. Romney and Huckabee followed, at 62 and 61 percent.

Martin is also getting some major league help. Both former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore have separately teamed up with Martin. President-elect Barack Obama isn't making a trip to Georgia but he did lend his voice to a 60 second radio ad that's been running for over a week. And many Obama campaign workers in Georgia from the general election are now assisting Martin's campaign.

Today, Martin teams up with Georgia Congressman John Lewis and other prominent Georgia Democrats before ending the day at a rally at the State Capitol in Atlanta with rapper Ludacris.

Do these big name surrogates make a difference? "Generally they can help boost turnout, because of all the media attention. Turnout in a runoff election is often very low compared to a presidential election and each side needs to get as many of their voters to the polls as possible," says CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider.

Democrats have so far picked up seven Senate seats in this year's election, with the Republican seats in Georgia and Minnesota still undecided. In Minnesota, freshman GOP Senator Norm Coleman topped his Democratic challenger, Al Franken, by just 215 votes, triggering an automatic recount which will extend well into December.

If the Democrats take both remaining contests, they'll reach their pre-election goal of controlling 60 Senate seats, a filibuster-proof majority.

soundoff(280 Responses)

Los

Would you want to fly in a plane piloted by an "average" pilot? Would you want to be operated on by an "average" surgeon? The answer to both of these questions is NO, so why in the hell would you want to be lead by a below-average politician?

December 1, 2008 11:06 am at 11:06 am |

Palin Fan

Love these scared liberals -PALIN for PRESIDENT '12!

December 1, 2008 11:09 am at 11:09 am |

LIP

Wouldn't it be nice if bloggers could say things without giving us a hint at their level of intelligence. Wouldn't it be nice if all the Mc Names would go away or all the slanderous remarks about gender also go away. I'll say it again...I hope all those lame brains out there have daughters that mock them for there sexist statements or their sons/daughters bring home someone of the same sex or a different religion or a different race to make these hipocrits go into shock.

December 1, 2008 11:10 am at 11:10 am |

WAKE UP! NO MORE TRICKS!

Do your job. Go back to Alaska and govern.

December 1, 2008 11:12 am at 11:12 am |

MsRotten

Stacy from Loudoun County VA December 1st, 2008 9:44 am ET

I am so glad that Sarah Palin is in Georgia. I am sure that the good people of Alaska, who elected her to be the Governor are too, since she has been on the job so long since accepting the nomination for Vice President months ago. She seems to be all hands on when it comes to her duties there.
==================================
Hey Stacy...can I ask what gives YOU the authority to speak for the good people of Alaska??? Because it is obvious that you do not know SQUAT!
1. The good people of Alaksa are FURIOUS that she is off on yet another "tour" to further her national career instead of taking care of AK business. They want her IN Alaska taking care of State business!! They also want her IMPEECHED!
2. She has been Gov of AK for LESS THAN 2 Years; and hasn't done ANYTHING to speak of since taking Office. Where do you get your "on the job so long" from?
3. Palin is in no way, shape or form a "hands on Gov when it comes to her duties there". Again....WHERE are you getting your info from????

Stacy...go play on the AOL message boards because it's clear that you have NO KNOWLEDGE of REAL NEWS! CNN is WAY above your IQ!

December 1, 2008 11:13 am at 11:13 am |

dukeradley336

Ack, not sure if the last one got through, but here is what one of my employees at McDonalds thinks about Palin right now –

http://deepfriedworldwide.com/archives/98

Please read, it would mean the world to him. I personally wish Palin would fade away, we are in South Carolina and Georgia is too close, anywhere is too close other than Alaska.
She shamed her party, and they cannot see that yet? Good God.

I hope this did not post twice, if it did, I am sorry –

Radley

December 1, 2008 11:14 am at 11:14 am |

FAYE MOGHTADER

i cannot imagine who are the people advising the GOP .if they think that they will regain their position again by their religious right.they are fools.palin will do nothing to attract independents and moderate
rebublicans to the ticket.wake up'

December 1, 2008 11:14 am at 11:14 am |

jeff in MA

I'm actually glad she's still sticking around because she's a magnet for negtivity which would otherwise be placed on someone not worthy of the attacks. Cheers to Palin being so good at being so bad!

December 1, 2008 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

NATHAN

This is so good for the Dems, I hope Stalin, oops, palin is made the head of the GOP for the entire Obama Presidency. She makes everyone in the lower 48 look like Rhodes scholars comparatively. Let her blow all the republican campaign money she wants LOL !

December 1, 2008 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

Vicki5

Doesn't Alaska need her to do all that governey type work up there. Also

December 1, 2008 11:24 am at 11:24 am |

KJL

The definition of "Republican" has certainly changed, and it isn't for the better.

December 1, 2008 11:29 am at 11:29 am |

Beverly, NYC

Thanks a lot Senator McCain for unleashing this know nothing on us.
Governor Palin don't you have a state to run?

@Palin Fan 1:09 am ET & Sarah Scares you: Governor Plain does not scare me, in fact she is the best fundraising billboard the democrats have. I hope Conservative Republicans put all their eggs in her basket for 2012, it worked so well first time around, by helping Obama raise 600 million. If she is at the top of the ticket in 2012 Obama may have the first billion dollar campaign, because I know I will work doubly hard for him in 2012. I am LOL just thinking about those debates.

December 1, 2008 11:29 am at 11:29 am |

Meh

MsRotten> I think you two are actually in agreement. I'm pretty sure she was being sarcastic.

December 1, 2008 11:30 am at 11:30 am |

LIP

Can't help but remind all those Palin critics out there that a little known Republican from way up there in Alaska, where you can truly see Russia from the furthest out Aleutian Island (part of Alaska), 57,000,000 voters filled in her and McCains name on the ballet.
I can't wait for 2012 when she goes hog wild with the lipstick and all and gets the majority of votes this next time around.
As Howard Dean would say "YEEHAW".

December 1, 2008 11:42 am at 11:42 am |

Gnomepark

Is she ever planning on returning to the great state of Alaska so she can do some "Executive" governing?????

December 1, 2008 11:42 am at 11:42 am |

Lisa M

Republicans really don't want re-elected.

Sarah may bring in the religious and the wacko's but she definitely doesn't attract real conservatives.

December 1, 2008 11:42 am at 11:42 am |

deb

Geez, why doesn't this woman go away! I don't know anyone who actually likes her or thinks she's even half way intelligent! She's just a lying, hate spewing, mean spirited, right wing, nut case who actually has the audacity to call herself a Christian. What a hypocrite!

December 1, 2008 11:45 am at 11:45 am |

Ia Guy

Like her or not, at least she's honest and upfront about her intentions. Quite the opposite of Obama, as he's proving (thank God) with reinstating the Clinton administration.

December 1, 2008 11:46 am at 11:46 am |

John Hruban

Doesn't Palin know there are no moose in Georgia? Go back to Alaska and stay there where you can enjoy doing what you do best. Gutting moose...

December 1, 2008 11:49 am at 11:49 am |

Janey

You libs would love for Palin to go away–however, we conservatives want her to stay on and that is what really matters. You guys will be so sick of Obama and his non-decisions, flip-flops and stuttering in a few months and will be happy to see him go and for her to reappear and know how to lead and make decisions. His "appointments" have to be people with knowledge–he sure does not know what to do.

December 1, 2008 11:50 am at 11:50 am |

Rorschach

Sarah, get a clue. Outside the narrow confines (and minds) of the Republican base, NO ONE WANTS YOU. Go home.

December 1, 2008 11:54 am at 11:54 am |

Lisa M

Looks like I'll be voting 3rd party or Dem come 2012.

Where the heck are the conservatives?

How about someone with some brains?

Lugar?

December 1, 2008 11:57 am at 11:57 am |

Mickie

Alaska doesn't need her, she has already pardoned the turkey because they are harder to hit from a helicopter.

December 1, 2008 11:57 am at 11:57 am |

MsRotten

Hey SaRahRahRah...your "god" has spoken...YOU LOST!! It was "gods will".

GO HOME and GOVERN your State!! The Good People of AK are wondering when you're going to start doing your JOB?!

Since the day you took Office, you've done nothing but further your personal agenda. Starting on Day 1 of taking Office to get your ex brother-in-law fired as an AK Trooper. And that is ALL you have done SINCE taking Office.

So, Princess, let me clue you in on what is going on within your own State that you so willfully NEGLECT......

Alaska is the highest in the Nation for rape and domestic violence.
Alaska ranks high in sexual abuse of children.
Alaska has TWICE the number of High School drop outs as the rest of the Nation. (AK population...UNDER 700,000).
Alaska has a higher rate of teen pregnancy. (By the way...did you know that your daughter is pregnant????)
Alaska is paying the highest gasoline and heating oil prices (heating oil is almost $10 a GAL).

And that is just for starters. Hey, SaRahRahRah....when are you going to GET TO WORK FOR THE CITIZENS OF YOUR OWN STATE???? People have been waiting for almost 2 years now for you to DO SOMETHING! Something other than take your whole family on "State Business" trips and then send the bills to the taxpayers. Something other than showing up at your husbands snowmobile races, with the whole family, of course, and charging the taxpayers! Something other than tending to your personal vendetta's (TrooperGate).

I can't wait until they IMPEECH YOU!!!

December 1, 2008 11:58 am at 11:58 am |

Erik from Real PA

Her own legislature found she abused her power and violated a state ethics law, she cannot or will not name newspapers she reads, she didn't know what the Bush Doctrine is, she was tricked by a radio DJ into believing she talked with the president fo France, she winked and flirted her way through a nationally televised debate, etc. etc. etc.
The woman is a loon.